Juicing Art

Choosing your home is tricky, but I encourage you to add one more variable into the mix… a friendly neighbor with a sweet garden.

Take a look at these organic tomatoes that the neighbor is growing. There are so many that they can't possibly eat them all. They encourage us to 'help them out with preventing veggie rot'  so it's tomato, basil, peas, peppers,  and more galore. Make them a cake or some cookies once in a while to keep things right.  Better yet, make them some juice from their own veggies! This plum tomato was so perfect that I couldn't bring myself to juice the poor fella. Salt, pepper, basil, and olive oil make the perfect summer snack. (rip the basil with your hand, cutting it makes it dark and mushy) 

Huge tomato eating benefit is its' Lycopene content. It's is a vital anti-oxidant that helps in the fight against cancerous cell formation as well as other kinds of health complications and diseases.

A few years ago I stopped using toothpaste. The reasons? I did not want to expose my teeth/body to as much fluoride, also it also would sometimes dry out my mouth causing bad breath. I began using Gum Joy Oil and a few other lesser known dental hygiene tools at home. The Gum Joy Oil has many essential oils including Neem which has been used for a very long time in India to treat a variety of ailments both viral and bacterial. It is very popular in Ayurvedic and Unani for treating a wide variety of afflictions - and happens to clean the teeth in excellent fashion.

Flossing has always been the bane of dental hygiene, its time consuming, can hurt your fingers, messy and all in all not fun. Therefore I resort to using the Plackers brand flossers. they are very strong yet thin and flexible. The handles are ergonomic unike cheaper brands. I like the sideways coping saw angle, as it allows you to get into all the tough nooks and crannies of your mouth.

First I rinse off the tooth brush with hot water to get the bristles warm and pliable. Then I place the tooth brush on the ledge bristles up. Next I take the Plackers brand flosser and apply 1 drop of Gum joy to the thread - directly over the tooth brush bristles. (This prevents oil droplets from landing in the sink and essentially wasting your money.)

Once flossing is complete, time to brush those choppers. You can of course use an electric tooth brush or alternate with a manual tooth brush, but regardless. Use a soft bristle compact head. Ensure that you spend about 2-4 minutes brushing then wash mouth out with some warm water. (I use a double canister carbon charcoal filter attached to the bathroom faucet to avoid chemical nasties from the city supply, also can drink/cook with the filtered water when I run out of spring water .)

Next I break out the tongue cleaner - my brand of choice is actually the disposable Oolit paper versions. I've used other versions and they are just not as comfy or effective. I find that tongue cleaning gives you much confidence when having a close conversation. Having a white tongue is not attractive, smells, off gasses bad breath, and dulls your taste buds immensely.

Wash the tongue cleaner before and after use with hot water - pat dry with a towel if you like. Allow your dental tools to open air dry. Keeping them closed up will cause an undesirable bacteria breeding ground.

Finally, I break out the secret weapon to fight cavities. The GUM Stimulator. The soft rubber tip is pointy, yet soft. It allows you to get in between the gum line and the teeth to remove even more food matter. Just allow the rubber tip to barely go under the gum and watch all of the debris it collects. The most staggering accumulation of debris occurs on when using this tool on the inside of your back molars. The amount of debris that brushing and flossing leaves behind is staggering. Rinse off the yuckies onto a washcloth and rinse thoroughly when done.

If you want to brush quickly one more time it won't hurt - especially if you ate sweets that day.

Following this nightly tooth cleaning regiment will make your teeth healthier and your dental hygiene cleanings will be a snap. Bedtime is when the bacterial mouth wars occur, so good hygiene practices then are paramount.

Note: In the morning I just give the teeth a quick brush and a tongue scrape - if I can sneak in a brushing/flossing after lunch it is not a bad thing either.  Keep a few Plackers in your car or purse so you have them at the ready. I also alternate using the Braun electric tooth brush and the Colgate manual version to keep the plaque guessing :) 

Having a cold is no fun - but you mine as well make some juice since you're going to be couped up in the house all day. This combination of vegetables is vitamin and mineral packed to help your immune system defeat the cold at hand. Celery gives your body vital salts, Cucumber helps to relieve inflammation in the throat, Lemon gives you a great dose of Vitamin C, Garlic helps to cleanse your blood, Tomato makes the whole mixture palatable. Enjoy and hope you get better soon!

Couldn't resist trying my hand at making a silly cartoon

The next time you visit your local grocery store, see if they have a discount produce area. This is a juicer's secret stash for inexpensive but sweet and ripe fruits and veggies. Often the fruit will be bulked packed and discounted heavily - it may be a little bruised or wrinkly but optimal for juicing. I use a zyliss soft skin peeler when contending with much of the bruised fruit. It aids greatly in the removal of the fruit's soft skin and simultaneously helps to remove most of the surface sprayed pesticides. The peeler has a serrated edge and really grips the skin nicely. The end of the peeler has a pre-sharpened stainless steel scoop that is great for removing apple stems and soft spots. (Stems can go in the juicer, but I would rather remove them prior to juicing to preserve the life of the unit.)  For this particular juice, I was able to score 4 pears and 6 apples for around $2. The watermelon, lime and ginger hunk were left over in the fridge. When mixed together, you are left with a delightful refreshing combination.  Watermelon is great for your complexion, pears are great for sore throats and a massive natural source of energy - the lime and ginger give you a little needed bite to liven up the mixture.

You have walked by cartons of them in the grocery store, shrugged, and thought "I don't know how to cut that open, and it seems kind of tricky." Another group of people happily put them in their cart but don't really know how to clean a Mango properly. They often end up throwing away a good portion of the fruit unknowingly.

Mango flesh is somewhat unique in that it really adheres to the wide falt central pit and must be "freed" or "pried away" with a sturdy spoon. Here is a 'How to' video that shows you how exactly to leave the Mango pit-less - using only a spoon and a sharp knife in under 2 minutes.

If you are going to eat the Mango straight away, I like to squeeze a bit of lime on the top. It adds a complex dimension of sweet and sour that is unmatched. A little bit in a juice combination goes a long way in terms of vitamins per ounce and sweetening up a veggie centric drink. They are packed with anti-oxidants and are great for a post workout snack. Mango also has some unique anti viral properties which help with various ailments. This site has some more great Mango facts. Mango is also great for your complexion - try eating a few per week and see how you face looks in the mirror after a month.

When choosing mango fruit, look for a larger one. Also pick up several and select one that is heavy for its size. I also like to get one that has a lot of deep reds and a tiny bit on the soft side. Then you can bring it home, let it sit for a day or two and it's the perfect ripeness. Waiting a week or more to eat your mango because it was unripe when you bought it is taste bud torture.

Paradise PA is located deep in predominantly Amish Lancaster County. The Spring Water Farm can be found there and offers some of the finest organically grown foods in the region. I went there for the raw cultured butter, whole chickens, and sauerkraut. They also sell meats there and a variety of other items. They utilize Dutch belted cows which have a characteristic white belt around their belly. This breed is known for making excellent dairy products, which are easily digestable. Here is a link for more info on the breed.  

This article about the Spring Water farm gives you some more info and directions. The Amish folks on the farm run the shop where they sell the items they produce. Looking forward to my next trip back. Plan a trip there and take a friend, you will have a great time seeing all the animals and Pennsylvania countryside. They accept cash and checks only, leave your plastic at home.

Filling up glass jars of ground forest fed spring water. Only 33 to 47ppm (parts per million) of contaminants compared to a typical tap water reading of 700ppm+. This spring's water is loaded with hydrogen and is free of flouride, chlorine, and other nasties. The pH of 6. This spring flows year round and can fill up a gallon container in only a few seconds. I like to use this water for drinking, coffee, tea, or any other food / beverage that calls for water. You will taste the difference and reap the health benefits by consuming this RAW unprocessed water. http://www.juicingart.com for more tips. use Find a Spring website to fond a source of unprocessed water near your hometown.

When I was shopping for juicers - one question remained in the back of my mind.

How do you clean these mysterious machines? This video demonstration shows how easy it really is to clean a Jack LaLanne power juicer. In under 2 minutes, it is on the drying rack. Fiber is in the compost bin. So the next time your feeling a bit lazy about making some fresh juice, and since the fruit and veggie preparation is half the fun, - ask yourself if you can spare two minutes to make a healthier you?